Wolfgang Petersen |
HOLLYWOOD - The man of steel versus the dark knight? It looks as though Warner Bros. is forging ahead with its planned Batman vs. Superman project, but as usual, the studio is keeping the plot tightly under wraps.
Wolfgang Petersen, who helmed the 2000 actioner The Perfect Storm, will direct and produce Batman vs. Superman through his studio-based Radiant Prods., using a screenplay draft written by scribe Andrew Kevin Walker.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Petersen revealed a few details about the film, which he says is an entirely new franchise completely separate from Warner Bros.' previous Batman or Superman franchises.
Petersen said that Superman's Metropolis and Batman's Gotham City both will be featured in film. "They are the bright and the dark side, which essentially is two sides of the same coin. That is the principle of the movie, which reflects what life is all about," he said.
"Superman stands for what is powerful, clear, bright, noble and just; Batman is dark, obsessive and vengeful," Petersen told The Hollywood Reporter. "Because they are so different, they will inevitably end up clashing. It will be a battle of the titans."
The two superheroes may be teaming up to fight crime, but they will have problems of their own to deal with, according to Petersen. "Superman has an unwavering belief in what is right and what is wrong, and it's just not that simple anymore in today's world, while Batman is on a path of self-destruction. He reacts to an act of incredible violence in a way that almost puts him over the edge," he said.
The project is still out to actors and is expected to have its title heroes cast in two to four weeks. "We are not going to go with typical action stars, but great actors who will do an action-oriented part," Petersen said. He added that there are three great parts for women in addition to Superman and Batman.
Petersen said he is aiming for a start date early next year and hopes the completed film will serve as a summer tentpole release.